A Real Balls-Out Player

Tsuyoshi Shinjo — the Japanese outfielder who played for the 2002 Giants — reportedly is stripping off his baseball tights for good.

Tsuyoshi Shinjo, back in 2002.

According to a report in the Mainichi Daily News, the 34-year-old outfielder surprised fans recently by announcing his mid-season retirement from the Nippon Ham Fighters, apparently to focus on his new calling: nude modeling.

The report goes on to say that Shinjo, along with wife Shiho, plan to be featured in a collection of nude photos. The book is aimed for an October release, along with promotional “life-size Shinjo posters.” Life size, eh? Can you say “Batter up”?

This isn’t the first time Shinjo has retired. According to the Mainichi report, he quit the Hanshin Tigers in 1995 before evenutally returning to the team. In 2001, the wild-haired Shinjo became the second Japanese position player (after some guy named Ichiro) to make it to the majors, playing with the New York Mets before moving on to Pacific Bell Park. He played his third and final Major League season back with the Mets. In all, he posted a .245 batting average in the states and even played in the 2002 World Series.

Though his tenure in the United States was relatively unremarkable, in Japan he’s apparently a star of Johnny Damonesque dimensions. In addition to his diamond exploits, he’s the face of Gunze’s Body Wild underwear line (not too far a leap from his future calling in nude modeling).

There’s even a blog dedicated to chronicling the travels of an undies-clad Shinjo mannequin. Gotta admit though, the mannequin looks like it’s been to BALCO a few times.